Kuching to host ASEAN Fashion Week 2012

IT is rather exciting to learn that Kuching will play host to the inaugural ASEAN Fashion Week from September 10 -16!

The event will apparently be quite a fashion extravaganza, showcasing the styles and designs from the 10 Member States of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Apparently, it will be the fifth biggest Fashion Week after the big four Fashion Weeks held globally — New York, London, Milan and Paris.

The event will rotate among ASEAN Member States with next year’s event to be in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

For this first ASEAN Fashion Week, Kuching City will play a prominent role in the event as outdoor venues have been identified to exhibit the city’s picturesque surroundings.

Admittedly I know very little about fashion and have never really thought of Kuching as a fashion capital.

So the fact that this international fashion event is happening in my city is really interesting.

It will be a seven-day, six-night affair comprising 10 invitation-only runway and exhibition shows, exclusive after-parties, two full-day fashion workshops and even a private Gems & Diamonds Show.

Apparently organisers say the event would be broadcast to a 460-million global audience through international media and satellite service providers such as Fox International and Fashion TV, with live feeds and footage of all after-parties shown via social media sites. Wow!

There would also be five leading fashion designers from each country competing on a regional stage.

Minister of Tourism Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg has said that the ASEAN Fashion Week 2012 would place Sarawak in a strong position to promote our unique natural settings, including the indigenous fashion of Borneo, globally.

He said Japan has also agreed to participate and expressed interest to conduct a workshop.

Having such an international group in Kuching along with international media attention is just priceless promotion for the city and Sarawak in general.

I’m sure we’ve all read articles on other international fashion weeks or seen footage on television or pictures in magazines. Although this will not be on the scale of say New York’s do, imagine what an opportunity this is for Kuching to shine!

Asean fashion week puts Sarawak in a position to promote unique natural settings

KUCHING: Sarawak Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg is confident that the inaugural Asean Fashion Week here on Sept 10-16 this year will place the state in a strong position to promote its unique natural settings, including the indigenous fashion of Borneo, globally.

He said Sarawakian models would be showcased in collaboration with the Sarawak Cultural Village, as a benchmark for the event, which is sanctioned by the Jakarta-based Asean Secretariat as well as by the state and federal tourism ministries.

“We have fashion designers of international repute but they must be exposed (to the industry at the international level), while the state will gain in terms of publicity as the audience will be global,” he told a media conference here today to announce the event, which will also coincide with the annual Sarawak Regatta.

The event is expected to be broadcast to global audiences through international media and satellite service providers as well as live feeds and footage of all after-parties that are held at various locations in Kuching city, including by Fox International and Fashion TV channel.

He said the Asean Fashion Week, which showcases the stylish Asean eccentricity originating from the 10-member states, would also see up to five leading fashion designers from each country competing on a regional stage, making it the fifth biggest after the big four fashion weeks held globally.

Japan, which had agreed to participate, had also expressed interest to conduct a workshop to provide insights into the fashion industry related to Japan or the industry as a whole, Abang Johari said.

He said an invitation had also been extended to India, especially as it was the industry to Bollywood movie stars.

Asean fashion schools and institutions have also been invited to promote new and upcoming fashion talents with the aim of showcasing a one-of-its-kind couture.

The Asean Fashion Week is rotated among Asean member states, with the next one in 2013 to be hosted by Cambodia in Phnom Penh. – Bernama